Fountain pen, medicine dropper, and the like



Maly 14, 1929- E. c. LoETscHER 1,713,187

FOUNTAIN PEN, -MEDIINE DROPPER, AND THE LIKE I Filed Nov. 50 192e fM/Lal @enc/1er ATTORNEYJ reame May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES EMIL C. LOETSCHER, OF DUIBUQUE, IQWA.

roUNrA'INrEN, MEDICINE Dnorrnn, AND THE Application filed November 30,1926. Serial No. 151,685.

The principal object of Vthis invention iste provide the compressiblefilling or refilling bulb of afountain pen, medicine dropper,

syringeyor the like, with an improved form of diaphragm'check valve toenable the implement to be filled to capacity' through successivecompressions of the bulb. A second lobject "of the invention'is toimbulb to Fig. 1 isa longitudinal vertical sectional view taken througha fountain pen with the invention applied, V Fig.' 2 is an enlargeddetail view in longitudinal section of the bulb end of the fountain pen,or other implement, and

Fig.v 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional viewof a modified form'jofbulb, illustrated with a fragment of the guard cap juxtaposed.

Referringto the drawing, reference numeral 1 designates the barrel orliquid reservoir of a fountain pen, medicine dropper, syringe, orsimilar implement, into which liquid is to be drawn throughthe agency ofa compressible bulb. The reservoir barrel 1 itself, or an attached pennib or'nozzle carrying attachment 2 is provided with an admission portor passage -3 of a capillary nature, which', in

-the case of a fountain pen, not only lea'ds the ink-into the reservoir-1 in filling' or in refilling, but 'also serves in writing to feed thepen nib .4; with ink from 4the barrel. i

Into'the opposite end of the barrel is inserted a. plu'g 5 with a bore 6ofthe same diameter as the passageway 3. The threads 7 within thereservoir. When the lug 5 is in place, a portion thereof extends eyondthe end of the reservoir 1 exposing the threads 7 of that portion forthe purpose-of receiving the guard cap 9 which threads thereon. The

projecting portion of the plug 5 is formedI with a reduced portion orneck 10 exteriorly threaded to receive an interiorly threaded collar ornut 12 which is located within the compressible bulb 14, so that lwhenthe nut 1 2 is on the plug engage internal screw 'threads- 'screwed intoplace, the integrally formed inl wardly extending flange 15 of the bulbwill be firmly gripped between the shoulder 16 of the plug 5 and saidnut 12, forming an effective liquid tight joint, as well as effectivelyholding the bulb 14 in position.

he bulb 14 in the preferred form, is slightly contracted toward one endto form a neck 15, shoulder 16, and rounded enlarged head 17, the latterbeingprovided with a vent orifice 18. Over the head 17 is placed a thin20 less elastic than the body portion 19, and this marginal portion 2Obemg of less diameter than the portion 19, lits behind the shoulf der 16at the .neck portion 15 of the bulb, closing the vent orifice 18 againstadmission of air,

-rubbcr cap 19, provided with reinforced edge but permitting egress ofair from'the orifice 18 between the bulb hcad 1.7 and cap portion 19,beneath the marginal portion 20 of the cap to the atmosphere. The cap 9has its closed end 21 interiorly conforming with the contour of theclosed end 17 of the bulb and cap 19, so as 'to force the cap 19 againstthe bulb end 17 to positively seat the valve and close said orifice 18when the pen is in use.

The bulb is made of flexible rubber or the like, While the other parts,with the exception of the pen nib, are of hard rubber, Celluloid,

bakelite or the like, withthe barrel preferably transparent'to expose.the liquid within the reservoir.

In use, when it is desired to fill the reser voir 1 ofthe implement, thecap 9 is removed, and the bulb 14 compressed to expel the air therefromthrough the core 6 of the plug 5, displacing the air within thereservoir 1 and forcing it out through the liquid admission portorpassage 3. There being n o liquid within these/parts initially, the airwill take the described course in preference to the path H'of greaterresistance through the vent port 18. With the air so exhausted, orpartially so, the end of the implement with the admission port orpassage 3 is submerged in the liquid to be drawn into the reservoir 1,whereupon thc bulb is released and upon expanding to normal shapepermits atmospheric pressure to force the liquid through said port 3into the reservoir 1 of the. implement. The fluid capacity of the bulb14 is considerably less than that of the barrel 1, so that it requiresrepeated operations to fill the reservoir 1 to capacity, andin thesecond and successive operations, the action is different from that ofthefirst described operation, as follows Upon the `s'uedessiveleomprssionsujbhf t'liefbulb-,"14,'vi'ithifA 'beneath the iiin 20' to theatmosphere. The`v reason. the course through the vent` o ritice 18offers less resistance is because the passage 6.

in the plug not only offerssoine resistance "to the passageof theair'from the bulb. in..

that direction, butbecause thecapillary n ature of the adinissionport'orpassage 3 will permit the liquid to pass only very slowly through thesame, thereby virtually forming present in the reservoir. .Thus theliquid cafv -pacity of the implement is not controlled by a liquid'sealagainst the exhaustion of the air through this port or passage 3 whenliquid is that of the bulb 14, since it is o1ily. necessary to fill thereservoir 1 to. capacity Whatever its size may be. As soon. as theliquidhasLeom-` 25.

to'rep'eat .the operations of the'. bulb in order pletely filled thereservoir 1,4 uponthe "next,l compression of the bulb, the lremainingain, will he expelled therefroimtlirough the vent i .'18 and' thetendency wint@ isi-draw the liquid through the restricted passage 6,-butowing to its capillary nature, ther flow ltherethrough of the liquidwill be resistedmore'than that of the air that went beforeandaccordingly,; the bulb will remain compressed for a longen.

period of time than before, thereby giving Aa signal or indication thatthe reservoir is com,-- pletely filled with liquid. To use theimple-Vment, it is not necessary to applythe cap, but" in. some applications itis highlydesii'able, asl

in the case of a fountain pen, to prote'etzthel bulb while the pen iscontained within the` pocket, and Wlienapplied, its closed-end por- 1though formed with a rounded 'closed end,

tion 21 positively holds the valve portion to. seat over the ventorifice 18.

In the case of the modified forni of Fig. 3, the bulb 14 is attached .bymeans of the' nut 12. and iange 15 as in the. preferred. form, but isunrestricted 'throughout its lengthy In this form, the venting of the.bulb is through one or more side orifices 18.', these being closed by anincircling elastic rubberring 19, which .ispositivelv held to its seat`hy pressure of the side portion 21' of the cap 9 when the latter isapplied.

1. The combination.witlialiqiiid reservoir' i having' an opening atoneeiid for the entry. and egress of the liquid. of a resilient bulb :it

.the opposite end for exhausting the air from the reservoir and having avent opening. and a flexible` diaphragm surrounding; a portion ofthebulb and covering vsaid vent opening and permitting; passaient' airtherethrough inonedirection only.

12l The combination with a liquid reservoir 'iifiiig an ieiing i'fifdffdie entry and egress of the liquid, cfa resilient bulb at the oppositeendvof the reservoir for exhaust' -ingf the 'air from-'the reservoir andhaving a vent opening, a flexible diaphragm surroundonedirection'onlythrough said vent opening, said diapli1'agm'-`elastically, gripping said and .egress of the liquid, of aresilient-bulbat the opposite end ofthe reservoir for exhausting the air from thereservoir and having a vent. opening, ofA a iiexible diaphragmsurrounding a portion of the bulb and covering said vent openingandpermitting passage ofv air therethrough in onedirection only, and a .capmember .forxsaid reservoir `arranged to engage and positively .seat.said diaphragm over said-ventopeninganfrl .4. Thecombinationgwithalidiiidreservoir .havingrestricted openings at both ends, one

Vofwliichis afcapillary opening, of'a resilient ,biilb' appliedtothe-reservoir at the end opposite the'` capillary. opening;z said bulbhaving a vent opening, a ilexible diaphragm el astically .inclosingtheportionofthe bulb adjacent the vent ,opening-.anda guardcap adaptedto' be applied to said reservoir and when so applied -`ing aportionoftliebulb and covering said vent openingI and-permitting passage of airin to engage. saiddiaphragmgto; positively seat l the same., f;

5. member having a reducedfthreaded portion forming a shoulder,. :oifalresilientplbiilb vhaving an-v in- Wardlyextending-fiange, and athreaded nut within, said-3 bulbi-threaded on said 'f reduced threaded.portonfand.eonining saidfflange between itselt'l and' saidsho ulder.

A 6. The-1combinationmwithif.anaerexteriorly screw th readedpliiodylnemberr having a reduced threaded neck portion yforming a shoulder, ofa'resilientbulbfhaving a. vent openin and an inwardly. extending flange,athreade nutfxvithin said bulbfv threaded on' saidneck g androniiningsaid., aiigmbctween itself and `fsaidshoiilder a di'aphragmcheck valvemember inclosing the portion; f said-bulb having the ventopening-,andaminternally threaded cap on said body @member positivelyseating said d iaphraginiupon said vent opening.

I 7. In combination;ailbulb having a vent ppeniiig. a ilexiblediaphragmencircling a portion of said bulb and-inclosing said vent opening. 1- v-'y i 8. Tn combination; a3-bulb having avent ppening of acal).shapedflexible .'diaph ragm inelosing oneend` of theabiilband saidvent opening and beingretainedxin-` position by its -own elasticity. Y

9. In combination ..flabulb` having an enlarged end with avent opening,a vcap-shaped flexible d iaphragminelosi n g' i said venlarged end ofthe hiilb and closing said vent opening esA and being retained inposition by its own elas.

ticity.

l0. In combination, a bulb having a neck portion and an enlarofedheadportion provided with a vent opening, a flexible cap memberinclosing said head portion and vent opening, the marginal port-ion ofthe cap be` ing of less diameter than the head portion.

1l. The combination with a liquid reservoir having capillary openings ateach end, a resilient filling bulb secured to one end of the reservoirand having its interior communicating with the interior of the reservoirthrough foneof said openings, said bulb having a vent opening, and acheck valve connected to the bulb and cooperating With said vent openingto permit passage of air therethrough in one direction only.

i 12. The combination with a liquid reser- 20 voir, of a resilientilling. bulb connected thereto and having less capacity than thereservoir,

said bulb having a vent opening, a check valve' connected to the bulband cooperating with said vent opening to permit the passage ci airtherethrough in one direction only, and means for causing the bulb toremain compressed longer after the reservoir is filled, than while it isiilling.

13. The combination with a tubular liquid reservoir, of a resilientfilling bulb connected to one end of the reservoir, and having itsinterior communicating with the interior of the reservoir, said bulbhaving a vent opening, and a check valve connected to the bulb andcooperating with. the vent opening to permit the passage of airtherethrough in one direction only.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

4EMIL c. LOETSCHER.

